EFTA investments under trade pact with India may come in sectors like infra, manufacturing

India’s trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is set to boost the nation’s economy with a committed investment of USD 100 billion over 15 years. These investments are expected to flow into vital sectors like infrastructure, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.

As the August 1st deadline looms, India faces potential US tariffs due to unresolved trade negotiations. The US team’s visit on August 25th signals a missed deadline, increasing the risk of punitive measures. Trump’s administration may use tariffs to pressure India, impacting key export sectors and straining bilateral relations despite mixed signals.

The India-UK free trade agreement safeguards the domestic generic drug industry. It avoids patent term extensions and data exclusivity. This prevents evergreening of patents. Indian patent law remains protected. The agreement, signed on July 24, will be effective in a year. India previously rejected similar demands from EFTA. The move ensures affordable medicines.

The India-UK free trade agreement safeguards the interests of the Indian generic drugs industry. It does not allow patent extensions or data exclusivity. Indian patent laws remain protected. India will provide duty concessions on specific British agricultural products. Sensitive items like apples are excluded. Indian farmers will gain access to the UK market.

India faces economic challenges from global supply chain shifts and potential US slowdown, but remains resilient with stable inflation and robust domestic demand. While cautious borrower sentiment and slow credit growth pose risks, govt initiatives and a strong farm sector support growth. The economy is expected to maintain a steady pace in FY26.

The recently signed India-UK FTA is a golden opportunity from India’s perspective, Sanjay Nayar, President of ASSOCHAM and Founder-Chairman of Sorin Investment Fund said, asserting that the private sector has to really now step up with the government having done most of the heavy lifting.

The Finance Ministry expresses worry about United States tariff policies. These policies might hurt India’s trade in the future. The US economy saw a contraction. This raises concerns about global demand. Indian exports could face challenges. Slow credit growth and weak investment may also limit India’s economic growth. Uncertainty about US tariffs could impact India’s […]

India is being careful in trade discussions with the United States. This follows issues in America’s recent agreement with Japan. Challenges also persist in deals announced with Indonesia and Vietnam. Piyush Goyal mentioned advanced negotiations with the US and Oman. A US team will visit India in August for further talks. India prioritizes national interest […]

In the next 20 days, the government will conduct approximately 1,000 outreach programs nationwide to educate industry and states about the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed on July 24. This initiative aims to ensure the agreement’s effective implementation and maximize its advantages, with sector-specific programs and state visits planned.

The UK and India’s Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed on July 24, will allow UK companies to offer services like telecom and construction in India without needing a local presence. British firms will receive the same treatment as Indian companies. India’s services exports to the UK are USD 19.8 billion, while imports are […]